Some Christians and conservatives are asking whether billionaire Clive Palmer’s latest political foray will cost the Family First party votes in the upcoming federal election.
Mr. Palmer is already spending millions on advertising for his bizarrely named Trumpet of Patriots party.
Both parties espouse traditional Judeo-Christian values, targeting the conservative vote.
The revived Family First is no doubt disappointed that Mr. Palmer’s riches are not available to spend on more advertising and volunteers for its own campaign.
WHAT FAMILY FIRST SAYS ABOUT CLIVE PALMER
National director and Senate candidate for NSW Lyle Shelton told Vision Radio:
“I’ve never met Clive Palmer, but I know some people who are close to him, and I’m assured by them that he is a Christian, that he’s a very sincere Catholic.”
“He’s [reportedly] got a chapel on one of his Gold Coast properties. He is pro-life.”
“I went and heard Clive Palmer speak in Sydney last year. He gave a very good talk, I think his heart’s in the right place.”
“I think sadly, if I could be so bold to say it, I think Clive’s problem is he’s a billionaire and billionaires are used to getting their way and perhaps don’t always take advice.”
“Whilst there’s many of his platforms that Bernie [Family First Senate candidate for Victoria Bernie Finn] and I would agree with, unfortunately I think his strategy is ill-conceived.”
CONCERNS THE PALMER PARTY WILL FRAGMENT THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE
“I think he’s going to spend another 100 million dollars at this election and just simply fragment the vote and I don’t think he’ll get anyone elected again this time,” Mr. Shelton predicted.
“It’s a real shame because his heart’s in the right place and I believe that money could be redeployed better to achieve a better result for politics in this nation, but It is what it is.”
“We are being supported magnificently by thousands and thousands of ordinary Australians who believe in our mission and they’re chipping in what they can, the widow’s mites”
“Our biggest donors are probably 10 or 20 thousand dollars, which is not a lot for a major gifts programme.”
“So it’s very much a grassroots-funded campaign. I have to say we are just thrilled with the response we’re getting. Obviously, we need more, but we’ve been blessed with enough to run a credible campaign.”
“But we certainly can’t match it with Simon Holmes a Court who’s bankrolling the Teals.”
“We can’t match Clive Palmer with his hundreds of millions that he’s throwing at this election.”
FAMILY FIRST TO RUN AROUND 80 CANDIDATES NATIONALLY
“We’re just determined at Family First. We’re here for the long term. Clive’s party won’t exist after this election, but by God’s grace Family First will and we’re going to keep going.”
“It looks like we’re going to have a tad over 80 candidates Australia-wide, which we’re incredibly proud of and pleased about,” Lyle Shelton revealed to Vision Radio.
But that’s why we’re in the fight because we’ve got to provide a leadership alternative for this nation and provide a voice for the issues which really matter, which are not being addressed by the major parties.
“It is tough for us, but it’s not impossible.”
“We’ve contested a number of state elections in the last two or three years since Family First Mark II came into being after having been closed down for a number of years.”
WHY FAMILY FIRST IS UPBEAT ABOUT INCREASING ITS VOTE
“In the Victorian election in 2022 we polled over 3% of the statewide vote. We eclipsed all the other minor parties in that vote. Similarly in South Australia that same year,” the party’s national director explained.
“In Queensland last year we ran 59 candidates and in 16 electorates we polled over 4% of the vote.”
“We contested the Werribee state by-election in a Labor heartland and achieved 4.3% of the vote.”
“These are very credible figures for a fairly new or reformed minor party that’s still in its start-up phase.”
“If we can turn that 3-4% into 4-5-6%, we are knocking on the door of Senate seats.”
SENATE RACE OFFERS THE BEST HOPE OF FAMILY FIRST SEAT
Mr. Shelton conceded: “Now that’s going to be a tough ask and I don’t want to create false expectations, but Bernie and I and our other candidates are giving it a red hot go.”
“If we could staff every polling booth in the state of Victoria, we could very much expect that Bernie would get elected.”
“If we can get the volunteer army out and if we can continue to raise the really good money that we’re raising at the moment — but we need a lot — we are certainly going to be knocking on the door, so we’re giving it a red hot go.”
“I don’t want to create unrealistic expectations, but if we don’t fight, if we don’t put these values on the ballot paper, who will?
“We’re in the fight because we’ve got to provide a leadership alternative for this nation and provide a voice for the issues which really matter, which are not being addressed by the major parties.”
“We have to start somewhere and if it’s not this time, I know that it’ll be in years to come, in the not too distant future that we will be achieving parliamentary representation, God willing if we stay the course.”
THE GOVERNMENT THAT LYLE SHELTON FEARS MOST
Lyle Shelton’s biggest fear is that Australia will end up with a Labor-Greens government.
“Adam Bandt will in effect be the Deputy Prime Minister and wield considerable power in a minority government. That is an absolutely frightening place to be in.”
“He is hostile to everything that normal, mainstream Australians believe in, who just simply want to get ahead, want to prosper for their families, who want their kids to know that there’s two genders, boys and girls, and nothing else.”
Adam Bandt is the one who drives abortion to birth policy. He’s the one advocating for an annihilation of the state of Israel and the Jewish people.”
“The Greens are not a party about trees and koalas. They’re a party about completely deconstructing everything that is good and true and beautiful about Australia.”
“The Greens for the last 30 years have been the tail that’s been wagging the policy dog to the point where now, much of the Greens agenda is even accepted by the so-called modern Liberals.”
